The Mac users at Download Squad love the built-in Airport cards in our Macbooks, but sometimes we wish the software were a little bit ... smarter. The menu-bar interface for Airport doesn't really give a lot of information about the available networks, and sometimes it automatically joins one you know you don't want to use. If you want to disconnect from a network without connection to another one, you have to turn your Airport off and back on. Frankly, it's annoying, and we're glad there's an app called AirRadar that makes things easier!

AirRadar color-codes the available networks, so you can quickly see which ones are open or protected, and what their signal strengths are. You can tinker with colors, view a signal-noise graph, and add networks to your favorites (there's a color for that, too.) Just as importantly, you can disconnect from a network without toggling your Airport off and on. It also fixes those auto-join problems by letting you set more specfic parameters for when it should get you onto a network.

For Macs only. Home Zone is a new utility that allows you to set actions on your Mac depending on Bluetooth or Airport networks that your computer can connect to. Actions include enabling or disabling the screen saver password, switching network locations, setting the system volume, locking all keychains or opening any file, application or URL.

The obvious use here is to set your computer to not require passwords when you're at home (or even better, when your Bluetooth-enabled phone is in proximity to your computer), but lock it up tight otherwise. Of course if you're using the Bluetooth functionality, be aware that Bluetooth ranges can vary widely, and sometimes randomly. If you're relying on Home Zone to lock your computer in the office when you walk away from it, you may be surprised by just how far you have to get away from it before it actually locks. Although it seems to take some time for a Bluetooth connection to register network scanning time is configurable in the application preferences, which is a nice touch.

However you look at it this is some seriously cool functionality. Home Zone is a free Mac download.

Thinking about expanding your wireless network but aren't exactly sure how to go about it? Using my trusty Linksys WRT54G, a copy of DD-WRT and an AirPort Express, I was able to increase the range of my network, and also bridge my wife's office upstairs with the network in the basement. Here's how you can do it too.

Ingredients:

• 1 Linksys WRT54G running DD-WRT
• 1 Apple AirPort Express
• MAC addresses of both
• 15-20 minutes of your time

For those who don't know, WDS stands for Wireless Distribution System. It's a simple system that allows you to interconnect multiple access points wirelessly. Wikipedia, as always, has more information on the subject.

Before we get started, as noted above, you need to have DD-WRT installed on your Linksys WRT54G, or on any AP/Router that supports it. Have a look at DD-WRT's hardware compatibility list to see if your hardware is supported. If you don't have DD-WRT installed, and are using a WRT54G, see these instructions on my personal blog on how to install DD-WRT. You'll also need to have already configured your AirPort Express.

Cabs are expensive, especially when considering that in most situations one can take public transport for about a fourth of the price. But for those times when you simply have to get somewhere quickly and with minimal hassle, taking a taxi is often the only option. Readers in large megalopolis's will be familiar with the idea of sharing a cab with a stranger, and the rest of us might have seen the idea come up in movies or TV. Most of the time cab sharing arises out of one of two situations: Two people standing on a corner on a Saturday each trying to flag down the one available cab, or friends going to or from a common location. Hitchsters takes the concept to a whole new level with their service (now in beta) matches people up to share taxi's and allows users to specify start and end points, co-rider preference (male or female), and even flight information for cabs in and out of the airport. Though the site currently only supports New York City, they promise to expand to other cities soon (San Francisco, please!).

[Via Product Dose]

TravelPost released a comprehensive guide to airport wireless connections this week. IT covers exact details to wifi signals from top US airports, and smaller airports. TravelPost lists whether the service is free, where to grab the signal, which service provider is sending out the wifi signal, and what the connection price is for hourly, monthly, and daily rates. There are currently 143 airports listed, with a special list of the Top 20 US wireless internet airports.

This list is a great benefit to travelers looking for which airports offer wireless connections, for both free and paid services. Just remember to print it off, and carry it with you when traveling.